Process for removing nicotine from tobacco



Patented Jan. 8, 1 952 rnoonss FOR REMOVING NICOTINE FROM TOBACCOMentor-e Sevcri, Buenos Aires, Argentina No Drawing. ApplicationSeptember 14, 1948,:

Serial No. 49,297. In Argentina September 18,--

'5 Claims. (Cl. 131-143) The present invention relates to a process forremoving nicotine from tobacco.

Prior art methods for removing nicotine from tobacco have generally usedalkaline substances which tend to adversely afiect the tobacco orproduce a partial deterioration thereof.

The object of the present invention is to obtain a tobacco practicallyexempt from nicotine, which at the same time shall preserve its originalappearance, and lose merely those aromatic principles which gave it itscharacteristic odor.

Said object is achieved by a process which consists in first treatingthe tobacco with boiled water, which is periodically renewed until thetobacco is suitably softened and brought into a condition in which itwill readily release the nicotine; thereupon the tobacco is subjected tothe action of an infusion of tea in boiled water and the thus treatedtobacco is washed and immediately immersed in boiled water which isrenewed periodically. The tobacco is then again treated with an infusionof tea in boiled water and washed with boiled water; it is then treatedwith boiled water which is periodically renewed, and finally removedfrom the water and dried.

In a practical application, leaf or cut tobacco was placed in atile-lined sink or trough and was completely covered with water whichhad previously been boiled, the water at the time of use being at roomtemperature. The tobacco is thus steeped for 5 to days, the water beingrenewed every 24 hours.

Thereupon, the tobacco was treated with an infusion of 300 grams ofCeylon tea in 100 litres of water, in which the tobacco was leftsubmerged for about 12 hours. At the end of that period, the tobacco waswashed with boiled water, and againsteeped in boiled water for 5 to 10days, the water being renewed every 24 hours.

The tobacco was next submitted to a further treatment with tea infusion.as hereinabove described, for about 12 hours, whereupon the tobacco waswashed with boiled water and again immersed in boiled water for 5 to '10days, the water being changed every 24 hours.

Alternatively, after the last washing, the tobacco may be placed inwooden barrels and covered with boiled water, and the barrels exposed tosunlight for 5 to 10 days, the water being changed every 24 hours toprevent fermentation.

Finally, the tobacco is removed from the water,

and dried in a register stove at a temperature of from 30 to 50 C.approximately.

Although the present invention has been described with particularreference 0 a sp cific example, the invention is not limited thereto andsuch changes may be made as are within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A process for removing nicotine from tobacco comprising the steps oftreating the tobacco with boiled water while periodically renewing suchwater until the tobacco has been sufficiently softened and disposed forready release of nicotine, thereupon subjecting the tobacco to theaction of an infusion of tea in boiled water, washing the thus treatedtobacco with boiled water by immediately immersing the thus treatedtobacco in boiled water and repeatedly renewing the water, thereupontreating the tobacco with a fresh infusion of tea in boiled water,immediately immersing the tobacco in boiled water, periodically renewingthe boiled water, removing the tobacco from the water and drying thetobacco.

2. A process for removing nicotine from tobacco comprising the steps oftreating the tobacco with boiled water while periodically renewing suchWater, until the tobacco has been sufficiently softened and disposed forready release of nicotine, thereupon subjecting the tobacco to theaction of an infusion of tea in boiled water, washing the thus treatedtobacco with boiled water by immediately immersing the thus treatedtobacco in boiling water and repeatedly renewing the water, thereupontreating the tobacco with a fresh infusion of tea in boiled water,immediately immersing the tobacco in boiled water contained in barrels,exposing the the barrels to the action of sunlight, periodicallyrenewing the water, removing the tobacco from the water, and drying thetobacco.

3. A process for removing nicotine from tobacco comprising treating the.tobacco w th boiled water for a period between about 5 nd about 10 daysto soften the tobacco for the ready release of nicotine therefrom,thereafter treating the tobacco with an infusion of tea and boiled waterfor about 12 hours, washing the so-treated tobacco with boiled water,steeping the washed tobacco in boiled water for a period between about 5and 10 days, subjecting the so-treated tobacco to the action of a freshinfusion of tea for about 12 hours, washing the tobacco with boiledwater, steeping the washed tobacco in boiled water for a period of about5 to 10 days, removing the tobacco from the water, and drying thetobacco.

4.A process for removing nicotine from tobacco comprising treating thetobacco with boiled water for a period between about 5 and about 10 daysto soften the tobacco for the ready release of nicotine therefrom,thereafter treating the tobacco with an infusion of tea and boiled waterfor about 12 hours, washing the so-treated tobacco with boiled water,steeping the washed tobaccor-in-r boiled water for a period betweenabout 5 and 10 days, subjecting-the SG-tre'ated tobacco to the action ofa fresh infusion of tea for about 12 hours, washing the tobacco withboiled water, steeping the washed tobacco in boiled water for a periodof about 5 to 10 days,

exposing the tobacco while covered with boiled" water to the action ofsunlight,. while periodically renewing the boiled water to preventfermentation, removing the tobacco from the water, and then drying thetobacco; 7

5. The method defined in claim 4 in which the tobacco covered withboiled water is exposed to sunlight for a period of about 5 to 10 days.

MENTORE SEVERI.

REFERENCES CITED ,Thefollowing references are of record in the file ofthis" patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 802,487 Wimmer Oct. 24, 19051,294,310 Sayre Feb. 11, 1919 1,518,706 Sartig Dec. 9, 1924 1,813,833Andrews July 7, 1931 2,0518,624 Roselius- July 21, 1936 2,086,446 SmithJuly 6, 193'? Sutter Sept. 12, 1939

1. A PROCESS FOR REMOVING NICOTINE FROM TOBACCO COMPRISING THE STEPS OFTREATING THE TOBACCO WITH BOILED WATER WHILE PERIODICALLY RENEWING SUCHWATER UNTIL THE TOBACCO HAS BEEN SUFFICIENTLY SOFTENED AND DISPOSED FORREADY RELEASE OF NICOTINE, THEREUPON SUBJECTING THE TOBACCO TO THEACTION OF AN INFUSION OF TEA IN BOILED WATER, WASHING THE THUS TREATEDTOBACCO WITH WATER BY IMMEDIATELY IMMERSING THE THUS TREATED TOBACCO INBOILED WATER AND REPEATEDLY RENEWING THE WATER, THEREUPON TREATING THETOBACCO WITH A FRESH INFUSION OF TEA IN BOILED WATER, IMMEDIATLEYIMMERSING THE TOBACCO IN BOILED WATER, PERIODICALLY RENEWING THE BOILEDWATER, REMOVING THE TOBACCO FROM THE WATER ADN DRYING THE TOBACCO.